Having heard the reply of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health to Question No. 9 on the Order Paper to-day, I had reluctantly to give notice of my intention to raise the matter on the adjournment, because I was not satisfied with the reason given by the Minister for his refusal to appoint the former trustees of the National Health Insurance Society. The Minister stated that only one of the three former trustees had been reappointed, because the other two declined to give written assurances on conditions held out by the Minister. We were not told who the third trustee was. I understand he is a subordinate of the Minister, a civil servant working in the Minister's Department. It is only reasonable to assume that he would not follow the independent course adopted by his colleagues.
My main reason in raising this matter on the adjournment is to point out that this is a further definite indication of a tendency on the part of the Minister to adopt a dictatorial attitude in all matters within the responsibility of his Department. As to the refusal of the two trustees to give the Minister the assurance that he asked for, the communication, which I had the privilege of seeing, was not a proper one. These men had given no less than nine years' service. I understand that during that time, year after year, not only were they reappointed, but a very special tribute of appreciation was paid to them for their previous services.
During their period of service they succeeded in getting the Department to make available much earlier than the Minister or his Department intended additional benefits for members of the society. I understand the view of the Minister's Department was that a reserve of £12,000,000 should be available before they would approve of the distribution of additional benefits. Through pressure, and due to the efficiency of the trustees and the committee of management, these benefits were made available much earlier. Another remarkable achievement and proof of the efficiency of the management and of the trustees, was that by wise handling of the funds of the society, and by investments, they added to the reserve fund not less than £10,000. I think the House will agree that these trustees, who gave such a long period of good service to the society, should merit more respect from the Minister, when they were due for reappointment. This is a matter to which the Minister ought to direct his attention, because if it is to occur again to people who give free and valuable time to the welfare of such an important section of the community as members of the National Health Insurance Society, grave harm will be done to such desirable efforts in the future.